Hip Hop Movie Club

Set It Off: 30 Years Later, Nothing Has Changed

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Special episode: Lehigh Valley rapper and nonprofit founder Maverick Makaveli sounds off on Set It Off, plus a live performance of her track "R.B.G.", all before our 30th anniversary screening of the 1996 heist classic at ArtsQuest.

Also check out:

Maverick Makaveli on SoundCloud and Instagram

Umoja Is Unity

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

Check us out:

Our next live event is LOUDER THAN A BOMB with a special performance by Baby the Poet of Tribes and Vibes! Join us on April 22 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA. Free tickets!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Set It Off could be made today (and that's a problem)

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Here's a throwback AND remix of our previous episode on Set It Off, ahead of our 30th anniversary screening at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA. Get free tix!

Topics discussed:

👑 Queen Latifah rules

👩🏾 The Sisterhood of Cleo, Stoney, Frankie, and Tisean

🏳️‍🌈 Early LGBT representation in film

🎤 Hip Hop's importance in this film

😵 Systemic oppression then and now

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...create!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free admission thanks to ArtsQuest! Get tickets here

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Look Mom I Can Fly is marketing

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:30:00 -0400

Take a ride with us on Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly, the documentary-style film on Netflix that led up to the release of his critically acclaimed Astroworld album.

Topics discussed:

😍 We break down his relationship with his fans,

🤕 the dark underside of this relationship that foreshadows tragedy to come,

😵 DynoWright takes this film to task for being a 90 minute commercial

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...radiate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free admission thanks to ArtsQuest! Get tickets now.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Why Rappin' hoodwinked us

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We move within the Breakin' / Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Cinematic Universe to Pittsburgh with a whole new cast of characters in this 1985 installment. The cheese factor is set to high in this early hip hop musical.

Topics discussed:

📦 We unpack the good and mostly bad in this film

🌟 We get a glimpse of some stars before they were stars

🧠 BooGie unlocks some core memories!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...irrigate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free admission thanks to ArtsQuest! Get tickets now.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

The next great rapper turned actor? | Mr. Happy review

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0400

If you are in need of help related to a mental health crisis or suicide, in the United States please dial 988 for 24/7 help.

Mr. Happy ain't a Pharrell banger! This "misguided search for true happiness" is a Vice short film from 2015 starring Chance the Rapper and Marie Oldenbourg.

Topics discussed:

3️⃣ Chance the Rapper crackles in a powerful film debut

💐 Flowers for the director Colin Tilley

📃 A connection to a seemingly unrelated hip hop classic

Also check out:

Watch Mr. Happy on YouTube

Read Vice interview with Colin Tilley

Read Billboard interview with Chance the Rapper

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...investigate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF (30th anniversary) on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free admission!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

The Documentary That Disappeared for 25 Years: Big Fun in the Big Town

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0400

We crack open an incredible time capsule of early Hip Hop in New York City! BEDANKT to Dutch filmmaker Bram van Splunteren for this gem.

Topics discussed:

🔮 Predictions about Hip Hop that came true!

👊🏾 Less acknowledged pioneers of rap get respect

🚪 A special guest none of us saw coming

Also check out:

"The Making of Big Fun in the Big Town" by Bram van Splunteren

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...appreciate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free tickets thanks to ArtsQuest!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Wiz Khalifa's Still Rolling Papers: More Promo Than Documentary?

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

This Wiz Khalifa documentary "Still Rolling Papers" is a 10th anniversary celebration of his multi-platinum Rolling Papers album.

Topics discussed:

📄 Paper thin storytelling

🏴‍☠️ Wiz's Pittsburgh pride

👟 His signature style

🚬 A kindred connection with Snoop Dogg

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...hallucinate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF (30th anniversary!) on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free tickets!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Hip Hop fans, this is a must-see: Ice-T's "The Art of Rap"

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The O.G. himself assembles 47 of the greatest rappers that ever lived to talk about how they make the rhymes that move the crowds.

Topics discussed:

✍🏾 the craft of writing rhymes and rapping

⭕️ two mind-blowing full-circle moments for us

🎤 the sheer number of rappers Ice-T included in this film and...

🤔 ...the fascinating insights he gets from them

Also check out:

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...proliferate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free admission!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

De La Soul Is Not Dead: Innovation, Influence, and Integrity

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Trugoy the Dove may have passed, but De La Soul is not dead! We'll explain why, having watched the 2016 documentary from Mass Appeal. It's a must-watch for any De La Soul fan.

Topics discussed:

🥇 How De La Soul stayed relevant their entire career through innovation and integrity

✊🏾 The surprising support they received early on

🎤 Their outsized influence on the careers of many rappers

💔 The rest of the story since this documentary came out

Also check out:

Our episode on the "Don't Press Play" episode of Teen Titans Go! with De La Soul!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...roller skate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18 at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

FREE TICKETS

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Get your free ticket now!

Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss – A Flawed, Heartbreaking Cautionary Tale

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:30:00 -0400

Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss (2021) is a glimpse into his final months. Both his prodigious talent and troubling substance dependency were on display. The sixth and final part of the HBO Max documentary series Music Box.

Topics discussed:

💔 why this documentary was a flawed but a deeply poignant cautionary tale

📈 how big of a star Juice WRLD was

😢 how he was the inspirational voice who helped a generation, but tragically couldn't help himself

Also check out:

If you need free crisis counseling, you can text LF999 to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line, or go to LiveFree999.org for more resources.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...intermediate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Hamilton: The Power of Teaching History through Hip Hop

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In 2023, we reviewed the 2020 film version of the Broadway production of Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda's revolutionary approach to edutainment delivered - for Gen X old heads and young folks alike!

Topics discussed:

🎭 Why we wish all history classes were done like this

🤕 Why Hamilton was not without its flaws

🎤 The many hip hop references weaved into the lyrics (and why it was a perfect Gen X soundtrack)

🏆 Who our MVP was in this show

🏅 Why it met our expectations, after all these years

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...negotiate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Save the date!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Stop sleeping on the OutKast film Idlewild!

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Idlewild (2006) is a story about friendship, dreams, and survival —all set to an OutKast soundtrack in a glittering, dangerous Jazz Age world. But most people missed out on it!

Topics discussed:

🤔 Why you should reconsider this bold film experiment

🎤 Where Idlewild fits in the hip hop canon

💔 Why it signaled the end of this legendary rap group

🤷🏻‍♂️ A contrary opinion about the film

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...ideate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Save the date!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Is this hip hop's #MeToo moment? Sean Combs: The Reckoning

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0400

CONTENT WARNING: SA, self-harm

We weigh in on the hot Netflix documentary SEAN COMBS: THE RECKONING, executive produced by 50 Cent. Is this hip hop's #MeToo moment? Can hip hop hold its icons to the standards it holds the world around it? Listen and find out!

Puffy is Poison by Maronzio Vance: https://youtu.be/2Z3bLRPOlrw?si=qUE1UT3wqeBX1IPD

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...debate!

Next live event:

SET IT OFF at SteelStacks, March 18, 2026. Save the date!

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/hiphopmovieclub

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hiphopmovieclub

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hiphopmovieclub

Bluesky: https://hiphopmovieclub.bsky.social

Substack: https://hiphopmovieclub.substack.com/

Website: https://hiphopmovieclub.com/

The Greatness of Run-DMC's Christmas in Hollis

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0400

It's the holiday season, so we are unwrapping what makes the music video and the song "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC so great!

Topics discussed:

"Back Door Santa" by Clarence Carter - the beat behind the song
How "Christmas in Hollis" made it on the A Very Special Christmas album
Breaking down the song and the video
Video director Michael Holman's under-appreciated contributions to hip hop
"Christmas in Hollis" in the movies and TV

Also check out:

Our episode on the Run-DMC documentary Kings from Queens. More on Christmas in Hollis at Defector, AV Club, Vice, and BET.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...ice skate!

Check us out:

Save the date: March 18, 2026 for SET IT OFF at SteelStacks!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Was Drumline way more hip hop than we thought?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Devon (Nick Cannon) has raw talent, New York City swag, and a scholarship, but can this drumming prodigy make it in the prestigious Atlanta A&T Panthers Marching Band?

Stick around for our review of Drumline (2002) and see just how impactful this film was.

Topics discussed:

📸 A quick snapshot of this Nick Cannon tour-de-force

🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon

🎞️ Fun facts about this cult classic

💥 The impact this film had on both HBCUs and marching bands

😱 Fan reaction then and now

Also check out:

Our episode on You Got Served

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...originate!

Check us out:

Next live event: SET IT OFF at SteelStacks, March 18, 2026. Save the date!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Two Hip Hop Legends Walk Into a Rom-Com: A Deep Dive Into Last Holiday

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 07:15:00 -0400

Here is a rebroadcast of our original episode on Last Holiday, starring Queen Latifah and LL Cool J. Enjoy this feel-good story about living boldly and savoring every moment!

Topics discussed:

👑 All hail the Queen, again

🙌🏾 Live your best life

💡 Know what you want

🐶 Underdog energy

1️⃣ A real one, on screen

Also check out:

Our episodes on

🏀 Just Wright

💵 Set It Off

🚔 In Too Deep

🦘 The film and TV career of LL Cool J

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...decorate!

Live Events:

SET IT OFF: March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks. Save the date!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree

Follow us on:

Substack (newsletter)

Our website

We got merch! Get yours at the MeteorWright shop

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Legacy of N.W.A

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Prof. Andrew "DJ ARM 18" McIntosh drops some serious knowledge about N.W.A., West Coast Hip Hop, and more before our 10th anniversary screening of "Straight Outta Compton" at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

Check us out:

Next live event: SET IT OFF, March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks. Save the date! Tickets will be available at artsquest.org.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

The Greatest Link Between Hip Hop and Sports: Straight Outta L.A.

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss "Straight Outta L.A.', the 2010 ESPN 30 For 30 documentary directed by Ice Cube, which explores the tight bond between the NFL's Raiders and gangster rap, especially by N.W.A.

Also check out:

"No Mas Presents: Dock Ellis and The LSD No-No" by James Blagden

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...on the Golden State!

Check us out:

Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA. Save the date!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

The one hip hop question Barbershop answered

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Can hip hop tell stories about everyday Black life — not just struggle, but community, responsibility, growth and maturity — and still stay authentic?

Ice Cube's Barbershop (2002) film sets out to do this. Did it work? HHMC takes a cut at it!

Topics discussed:

📸 A quick snapshot of this pivotal shift for Ice Cube

🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon

🎞️ Fun facts about this Chicago classic

💥 The impact this film had on both Ice Cube and Eve's careers

😱 Fan reaction then and now

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...double date!

Check us out:

Our next live event is STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON on Thursday 11/13 7pm ET at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Come early for a throwback set AND opening remarks by our man DJ ARM 18!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

N.W.A.'s Impact on the Game: From Snoop to Eminem to 50 to Kendrick

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400

Ahead of our 10th anniversary screening of Straight Outta Compton, we examine The World's Most Dangerous Group's family tree, perhaps the most powerful one in hip hop, going from Snoop Dogg all the way to Kendrick Lamar.

Topics discussed:

🌳 N.W.A.'s family tree

😱 N.W.A.'s controversies

📽️ Their biopic, Straight Outta Compton

Also check out:

Our episode on Straight Outta Compton and our deep dive on Ice Cube

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...checkmate!

Check us out:

Hang with us on November 13 at 7pm for our 10th anniversary screening of Straight Outta Compton! Come early for a throwback DJ set and opening remarks by Prof. Andrew "DJ ARM 18" McIntosh of Northampton Community College.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Idlewild: The OutKast movie everyone slept on

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Does Idlewild got that swing, or ain't got that swing?

Set in Prohibition-era Georgia, 1930s, Idlewild portrays the story of two childhood friends going in completely different directions. Percival—played by André 3000—is a quiet, introverted church pianist who dreams of playing bigger stages, and then there's Rooster, Big Boi's character, running the hottest speakeasy in town, the Idlewild club, dealing with gangsters and all the chaos that comes with it. It's a story about friendship, dreams, and survival —all set to an OutKast soundtrack in a glittering, dangerous Jazz Age world.

Topics discussed:

📸 A quick snapshot of this bold musical experiment

🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon

🎞️ Fun facts about this cult classic

💥 The impact this film had on hip hop cinema

😱 Fan reaction then and now

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...ideate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, on Thursday November 13 at SteelStacks.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Beyond the Big Four: More Rappers Who Conquered Hollywood

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We have spoken about our Mount Rushmore of rappers turned actors: Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Tupac Shakur, and Ice Cube. Who is in the next tier? Listen and find out!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...marinate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON on Thursday Nov. 13 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

How Bulworth Told It Like It Is: Real Talk from a Rapping Senator?!

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Warren Beatty's 1998 political satire Bulworth gave us an audacious experiment: a white politician who ditches his teleprompter for freestyle flows and brutal honesty about America's political machine.

Topics discussed:

📸 A quick snapshot of this political satire

🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon

🎞️ Fun facts about this cult classic

💥 The impact this film had on politics

😱 Fan reaction then and now

Also check out:

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...pomegranate?

Check us out:

Our next live event is STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON on Thursday November 13 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Squeeze Play or Snake Oil? (Anaconda review)

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:30:00 -0400

A documentary film crew ventures into the Amazon rainforest and gets hoodwinked into helping a mysterious snake hunter. A deadly encounter with The Predator ensues, with a Death Certificate waiting for AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted and Jenny from the Block.

Topics discussed:

📸 A quick snapshot of this polarizing movie

🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon

🎞️ Fun facts about this creature feature

💥 The impact this film had on the trope of Black people dying in horror films

😂 Fan reaction then and now

Also check out:

A new Anaconda film is coming out this year! Anaconda 2: The Wrath of Conda

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...interrogate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is TALES FROM THE HOOD, October 4 at SteelStacks with the First Saturday Horror Series/How Could You?! Podcast. Tickets at steelstacks.org.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Tales from the Hood: A Dead Seriously Good Film

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 20:00:00 -0400

Don't be scuuuurrrred, the Halloween season is near! We dove into the 1995 horror anthology movie Tales from the Hood.

Tales from the Hood is a horror anthology about three young men who visit a mysterious funeral home, where the eccentric mortician tells them four supernatural stories that blend scares with social commentary on issues like police brutality, racism, and domestic violence. Think "The Twilight Zone" meets urban horror, with each tale exploring how supernatural justice comes for those who commit very human evils.

Topics discussed:

A quick snapshot of this cult classic
Where this fits in the hip hop canon
Fun facts about this fright fest
The impact this film had on Black storytelling
Fan reaction then and now

Also check out:

We are screening Tales from the Hood in celebration of its 30th anniversary, in conjunction with the First Saturday Horror Series and the How Could You?! podcast at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on October 4th. Tap in and come through! Get tickets.

Director Rusty Cundieff also helmed Fear of a Black Hat, which we reviewed in 2024. Listen now.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...period.

Check us out:

Our final screening of the year at SteelStacks is Straight Outta Compton. We're celebrating its 10th anniversary on November 13!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Worst of the Worlds (War of the Worlds review)

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 21:30:00 -0400

If you're a big hip hop fan, you might be considering watching Ice Cube's new disaster flick, War of the Worlds. We watched it so you don't have to.

Topics discussed:

Quick snapshot of this disastrous disaster film
Where this fits in the hip hop canon (it doesn't really)
Fun facts about this tedious movie
The impact this film might have
Hilarious roasting by fans

Also check out:

National Geographic's series on UFOs is really good

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...postulate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is TALES FROM THE HOOD on Saturday October 4th with the First Saturday Horror Series and the How Could You?! podcast at SteelStacks.

Buy tickets!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Friday After Next: Enter Katt Williams (encore)

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 15:15:00 -0400

Superstar comedian Katt Williams made his film debut in the third installment of the Friday series, 2002's Friday After Next. "Money Mike" stole scenes like Ghetto Santa Claus stole Craig and Day-Day's Christmas presents!

Topics discussed:

🎄 It's a Christmas movie

👥 We see an evolution of the dynamic between Craig & Day-Day

😂 There is a shift to a more slapstick style of comedy

3️⃣ This was the last Friday installment for more than two decades – until the fourth movie, which is scheduled for release in 2026

🕺🏻 The movie helped launch the career of Katt Williams!

Also check out:

Our episodes on Friday and Next Friday

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...meditate!

Check us out:

Join us on Saturday, October 4th at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, PA as the Hip Hop Movie Club teams up with the First Saturday Horror Series and hosts of the How Could You?! Podcast for a special screening of "Tales from the Hood." You will not want to miss this spooktacular event.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Judgment Night: Significant Soundtrack, Forgettable Film

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:45:00 -0400

Today we answer this question about the 1993 action crime thriller Judgment Night: why was the soundtrack so much more important than the film itself?

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...ventilate!

Check us out:

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Herb + Harvard + Hijinx = How High (encore)

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In honor of back to school season being upon us, here is an encore presentation of our original episode on How High starring Redman and Method Man.

Will the Ivy League academic career of Silas and Jamal be lit? Or will the experience all go up in smoke?

How High on IMDb

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

Girls Gone Wild (Wikipedia)

FUBU

How High soundtrack (Spotify)

"Together Again" by Janet Jackson (YouTube)

Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (Grammy.com)

How High 2 (IMDB)

"I'll Bee Dat!" by Redman (YouTube)

Method and Red (IMDB)

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...reciprocate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is TALES FROM THE HOOD (30th Anniversary screening) with the First Saturday Horror film series at SteelStacks!

Tap in and come through Saturday, October 4 at 9:45 pm at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

The film and TV career of Ice Cube (encore)

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:15:00 -0400

In honor of our 30th anniversary screening this Friday August 15th of FRIDAY, here is an encore presentation of our original episode on the film and television career of Ice Cube.

Get tickets and join us at SteelStacks!

Topics discussed:

🎞️ Ice Cube is more versatile as an actor than you might realize.

🎭 Even as his acting career has evolved in surprising ways, he has stayed true and authentic to himself.

🏀 His career also evolved to include founding the Big 3, a basketball league with former NBA players, and other entrepreneurial projects.

Also check out:

Our original episodes on Are We There Yet?, Boyz n the Hood, Friday and Next Friday.

And remember:

Don't hate...motivate!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Friday: The most quotable hip hop movie of all time? (encore)

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Welcome to an encore presentation of our original episode on Friday, the 1995 classic starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker.

If you're in the Bethlehem PA area on Friday August 15, you can catch our 30th Anniversary screening of Friday at SteelStacks. Get tickets now and see it on the big screen! Doors at 7:30 with throwback set by the one and only DJ ARM 18!

Topics discussed:

So many funny bits, set against the backdrop of serious South Central L.A.
The chemistry between Ice Cube and Chris Tucker
The comedic genius of John Witherspoon
So many quotable lines that have endured for decades
An amazing gallery of characters, played by terrific actors

Also check out:

Our episodes on Next Friday and Friday After Next

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...collaborate!

Check us out:

A Friday screening...on a Friday! August 15 at 8pm at SteelStacks. Part of the Hip Hop Movie Club Film Series!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Pharrell's (Master)Piece by Piece (encore)

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In honor of the new Clipse album coming out, we wanted to kick it back to our original episode on Piece by Piece, a fun and inspirational LEGO® movie about the creativity and career of Pharrell Williams!

Topics discussed:

🧱 What better way to tell the story of Pharrell Williams' vivid life than through LEGO bricks?

🤩 He has produced and written so many great songs, you could easily forget just how many!

📈 How Pharrell overcame adversity is a good lesson for all.

Also check out:

Former HHMC guest of the show: Leaving the Theater with Ronald Young Jr.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...be great!

Check us out:

Our next live event is FRIDAY 30th anniversary screening (on a Friday!), August 15th at 8pm. Throwback set at 7:30 by none other than DJ ARM 18.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

The most dramatic transformation in hip hop (Are We There Yet?)

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We think Ice Cube's progression from gangsta rapper to family friendly actor is unprecedented, and he cements it as Nick in "Are We There Yet?"

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...navigate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is FRIDAY (30th anniversary!) screening on August 15 - at SteelStacks:

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

What Biz Markie Was Really Like: All Up in the Biz (rebroadcast)

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:00:00 -0400

Biz Markie was the "Clown Prince of Hip Hop". He paved his own way in the industry and in turn, opened doors for future legends. He was like a big kid and larger than life. Even in death, nobody beats the Biz. (Nobody Beats the Biz!) But what was the late, great Biz Markie really like?

Today the four-year anniversary of his passing in 2021, here is a rebroadcast of our episode on "All Up in the Biz" 🎤

Also check out:

All Up in the Biz on IMDb

Where to Watch: Showtime

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...accommodate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is FRIDAY on Friday August 15 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, PA. Buy tickets

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

No dreams are too small (In the Heights)

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0400

(Encore presentation) The film adaptation of In The Heights from Lin-Manuel Miranda is a joyous spectacle of singing, dancing, and asserting your dignity in small ways.

Topics discussed:

There are multiple elements of hip-hop culture present in the film - and the rapping is on point.
Several Latin cultures are represented, showing the diversity of Washington Heights.
The vocal talent is top notch and the dancing and choreography sizzle.
The film weaves in serious elements that give the light and bright storytelling some drama and weight.
There are multiple story lines, all tied towards a common theme of realizing dreams.

Also check out:

Our episode on Hamilton

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...radiate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is FRIDAY (30th anniversary!) on Friday, August 15 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

The importance of breakin' in hip hop culture: The Freshest Kids

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0400

The Freshest Kids explores the history and evolution of b-boying, also known as breaking, from its roots in the Bronx to its international explosion. Archival footage of key figures in the b-boy scene, and many hip hop luminaries dot this fascinating journey about the enormous impact of breaking on society.

Topics discussed:

🎤 A Bronx tale

🎥 Hollywood story

🚔 The system strikes back

⭐️ A cast of thousands

🕺🏻 Dance was never just dance

Also check out:

Breakin' and Poppin' with Alfonso Ribeiro

This is hip hop! with Dena Rizzo

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...circulate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is FRIDAY on Friday August 15 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Is Bomb the System a must-watch for hip hop enthusiasts?

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 07:30:00 -0400

Bomb the System follows the exploits of Anthony, a.k.a. Blest, and his crew members Justin and Kevin, who live the gritty life of graffiti bombers in New York City.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...appreciate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is BEAT STREET on Wednesday June 25 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Beat Street (encore presentation)

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0400

In honor of our screening of the classic hip hop film Beat Street (in 4K!) on Wednesday June 25 at SteelStacks, here is an encore presentation of our first-ever episode of Hip Hop Movie Club.

Tickets still available: Get them at SteelStacks.org!

Doors open at 6:45 with a throwback set by our man DJ ARM 18 and a special b-boy performance by the Lehigh Valley's own BRKN STEEL! Film starts at 7:15.

Also check out:

Beat Street on IMDb and Pluto TV

The New York City Breakers and the Rock Steady Crew

"Don't Disturb This Groove" by The System

"1984" ad by Apple Computer, in which we accidentally referenced Orson Welles instead of George Orwell 🤪

Guy Davis, blues guitarist

The classic breakdance battle at the Roxy

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...congratulate!

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Why Hamilton is as frustrating as it is brilliant — and impossible to pin down (Vox)

How revolutionary was Hamilton?

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Hamilton and the upcoming 78th annual Tony Awards, here is our original 2023 episode on the film version of the beloved musical.

In the 2020 film version of the Broadway musical Hamilton, a young and ambitious Alexander Hamilton yearns to write a long-lasting legacy of his own, and of a brand new country in the New World he helped create. Aaron Burr, one of history's great frenemies, stands in his way.

This episode of Hip Hop Movie Club answers the question: Just how revolutionary was the hip-hop infused story and theatrical production of "Hamilton?"

Also check out:

Hamilton on IMDb

Where to Watch: Disney+

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. Additional music "Thrash Metal" by Muzaproduction / Aleksandr Karabanov from Pixabay.

And remember:

Don't hate...negotiate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is BEAT STREET on Wednesday June 25 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Is "80 Blocks from Tiffany's" essential viewing for the hip hop fan?

Fri, 30 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The 1979 documentary "80 Blocks from Tiffany's" is a fascinating slice-of-life look at two South Bronx gangs, the Savage Skulls and the Savage Nomads. Although this isn't the most hip hop film we've ever discussed, there are some interesting tidbits about the conditions from which hip hop emerged.

Topics discussed:

There isn't much plot line or narrative, but the glimpses of how these gangs operated are entertaining
We enjoyed the scenes with local resident Joan Butler
There are a few examples of hip hop elements - can you spot them?
If you do watch this film, watch Rubble Kings after

Also check out:

Our episode on Rubble Kings

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...pontificate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is BEAT STREET on Wednesday June 25 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Rubble Kings: How the South Bronx gang scene gave birth to hip hop

Sat, 24 May 2025 10:30:00 -0400

Ever wonder how hip-hop was actually born? "Rubble Kings" takes us back to the 1970s South Bronx, a neighborhood abandoned by the city and ruled by more than 100 street gangs engaged in all-out turf wars. After the shocking murder of peace counselor Black Benji in 1971, something remarkable happened—rival gang leaders met at the historic Hoe Avenue Peace Meeting and decided to put down their weapons.

What followed was amazing: former enemies started throwing block parties instead of punches, and from those streets of transformation came the beats, rhymes, and moves we now call hip-hop. Through incredible archival footage and stories told by the gang members themselves, we witness how creativity flourished in the most unlikely place.

Topics discussed:

☠️ A Product of the Environment: The 1970s South Bronx, plagued by urban decay and government abandonment, had over 100 street gangs with approximately 11,000 members who controlled nearly every neighborhood
🎥 Cinematic Influence: The real-life Bronx gangs documented in "Rubble Kings" directly inspired films like "The Warriors"
☮️ The Hoe Avenue Peace Meeting: A historic 1971 gang peace treaty following Black Benji's murder transformed street battles into block parties
🎤 Origins of Hip-Hop: The violent gang culture of 1970s South Bronx created the breeding ground for hip-hop's birth
4️⃣ The Four Elements Connection: When territorial violence subsided, gang energy evolved into the four elements of hip-hop: DJing, MCing, breaking, and graffiti

Also check out:

Power-Fuerza, the Ghetto Brothers' 1972 album

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...graduate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is WE WANT THE FUNK on Wed May 28, a film screening and discussion at Lower Macungie Library. Register for free.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

A tribute to Stuart Scott

Is Just Wright alright?

Sat, 17 May 2025 20:45:00 -0400

In honor of the ongoing NBA playoffs, here's an encore presentation of our original episode on Just Wright, starring Queen Latifah and Common.

Topics discussed:

Queen Latifah displays why she is on our Mount Rushmore of hip-hop star turned actors
Common shows that he is a solid actor
The basketball scenes are just mid
The plot is quite formulaic and predictable, but hey, it's a rom-com!
There are a couple actresses whose skills and experience are underutilized: Pam Grier and Phylicia Rashad.

Also check out:

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...articulate!

Check us out:

Join us on May 28 at 6pm at the Lower Macungie Library for a WE WANT THE FUNK screening and discussion by us. Register now!

And join us on June 25 at 7:15pm at SteelStacks for a screening of BEAT STREET. Come early for a throwback set by DJ ARM 18 at 6:45. Buy tickets now!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Dope (rebroadcast)

Wed, 07 May 2025 08:30:00 -0400

In honor of BooGie's birthday on May 10, we're re-releasing our episode on DOPE, one of his personal favorites!

If you're of a certain age (a.k.a. GROWN), then Rick Famuyiwa's 2015 film Dope is definitely for you. And even if you're on the younger tip, this is a great homage to what we consider the Golden Age of Hip Hop music and culture.

Topics discussed:

This movie's wild, not-for-the-faint-of-heart ride
The gold mine of '90s Hip Hop jams
Shameik Moore: dynamic leading man
Rick Famuyiwa gifts us a tribute to Hip Hop culture, as he did with Brown Sugar.
A powerful social message about stereotyping based on socioeconomic status

Also check out:

Our episode on Brown Sugar

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...graduate!

Check us out:

Join us on May 28th at the Lower Macungie Library for a screening and panel discussion of We Want the Funk, the new documentary from PBS. Go to lowermaclib.org to register.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Above the Rim (rebroadcast)

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In honor of the NBA playoffs, here is an encore presentation of our original episode on the 1994 classic Above the Rim, starring Tupac Shakur, Duane Martin, Marlon Wayans, and Leon.

Also check out:

The film's screenwriter, Barry Michael Cooper, passed away in January at the age of 66.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...meditate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is on May 28: a screening of We Want the Funk, the new PBS documentary, plus panel discussion by us at the Lower Macungie Library. Free to attend, register now at the LML website. Shout out to PBS39 for their support of the event.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Can DJay make it big as a pimp-turned-rapper?

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 08:15:00 -0400

Welcome to an encore presentation of our original review of Hustle & Flow, starring Terrence Howard, Ludacris, and Taraji P. Henson.

If you're in the Lehigh Valley, come to our 4K screening of this cult classic at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on April 24th. Tickets at steelstacks.org or get 'em at the door. Special throwback set by DJ Mike Nyce! See you there.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

Check us out:

Our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Substack (newsletter)

Did Cash Rule Everything Around the Wu-Tang Clan? (Of Mics and Men, Part 4 review)

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 12:45:00 -0400

In Episode 4 of "Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men," we see the group reflecting on 25 years together in the hip-hop game, as well as conflicts over finances and family dynamics.

Topics discussed:

Reflection: The crew reflects on 25 years together.
Financial disputes: The profits from the crew's solo albums caused strains in trust among members, as well as the dominance of the Wu-Tang Clan as a collective.
Once Upon a Time in Shaolin: A unique marketing ploy in which RZA enabled Cilvaringz to produce a single copy of a secret, unreleased album caused great controversy.
Life is short: We see a theme of appreciating the blessings that life has afforded the Wu-Tang Clan.
Family: Through the entire journey, the Wu-Tang clan has been a family and support system for one another.

Also check out:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...DOMINATE!

Check us out:

Our next live event is our Hustle & Flow screening in 4K on Thu Apr 24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem!

Conviction and exoneration (PBS)

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Bonus: The Central Park Five

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:30:00 -0400

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual violence.

On the occasion of the lecture by Dr. Yusef Salaam of The Exonerated Five at Northampton Community College's Annual Humanities Keynote on April 15, we reviewed The Central Park Five, the 2012 documentary by Ken Burns, David McMahon, and Sarah Burns.

Also check out:

Is "Do the Right Thing" as vital and important as ever?

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...exonerate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is our HUSTLE & FLOW screening in 4K at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas in Bethlehem, PA. Part of the Hip Hop Movie Club Film Series at SteelStacks.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

What led to the turmoil within the Wu-Tang Clan?

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 14:30:00 -0400

In Episode 3 of "Of Mics and Men," we see the Wu-Tang Clan reach international fame and glory, but also turbulence as solo aspirations conflict with those of the collective, and we see the untimely passing of Old Dirty Bastard.

Topics discussed:

The Takeover
The Bliss
The Turbulence
The Schism
The Tragedy

Also check out:

Our live show and conversation with Rider University professor Mickey Hess, co-author of a biography of Ol' Dirty Bastard.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...advocate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is HUSTLE & FLOW on Thursday April 24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

How did the Wu-Tang Clan rise to fame on their own terms?

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

The Wu-Tang Clan rose to fame on their own terms. We'll answer the question: How did they do it?

Episode 2 of "Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men" chronicles the group's meteoric rise following the release of "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)." It also highlights the RZA's revolutionary business model allowing members to pursue solo deals while maintaining the collective, which would lead to breakthrough albums from Method Man, ODB, and more.

Topics discussed:

RZA and the Wu-Tang Style
Wu-Tang's revolutionary business model
The breakthrough
The management team
Wu-Tang's uniqueness and cultural impact

Also check out:

Our review of Episode 1 of Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...resonate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is HUSTLE & FLOW! Thursday April 24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

What was the origin story of the Wu-Tang Clan?

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In honor of the upcoming Final Tour by the Wu-Tang Clan, we are discussing their origin story as seen in episode 1 of the 2019 documentary series Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men.

Robert Diggs (RZA) and the other members of the Wu-Tang Clan are introduced as survivors of difficult circumstances who found solace in hip-hop, kung fu cinema, and the Five Percent Nation.

Topics discussed:

The economic conditions and racial tensions in Staten Island
Family ties and bonds forged in Park Hill
The Five Percent Nation's teachings
RZA almost going to jail for 8 years
Kung fu and the martial arts aesthetic

Also check out:

Our episodes on Nas: Time Is Illmatic and Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...percolate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is our HUSTLE & FLOW screening in 4K on Thursday April 24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, PA: Buy tickets

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Memorable Diss Tracks and Rap Battles

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:30:00 -0400

If you watched Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, you saw a diss track in action. We answer the question: What are some of the most memorable diss tracks and rap battles on film?

Topics discussed:

"South Bronx" and "The Bridge Is Over"
LL Cool J vs. Kool Moe Dee
Roxanne Shanté vs. UTFO and Roxanne vs. KRS-One
Biggie "Who Shot Ya?" vs. 2Pac "Hit 'Em Up"
Nas vs. Jay-Z
50 Cent vs. Ja Rule
Ice Cube "No Vaseline" vs. Eazy-E
3rd Bass "Pop Goes the Weasel" vs. Vanilla Ice
2 Live Crew "Martinez" vs. Bob Martinez
Eminem vs. Everybody
B-Rabbit vs. Papa Doc in 8 Mile
Adam vs. everyone in Bodied
DJay vs. Skinny Black in Hustle & Flow
On the Come Up

Also check out:

Our episodes on 8 Mile, our interview with Craig G on coaching the on-screen rappers in 8 Mile, Bodied, Hustle & Flow, On the Come Up, Wild Style, and Notorious.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. Follow @hiphopmovieclub on Instagram!

And remember:

Don't hate...checkmate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is Thursday April 24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Hustle & Flow

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Our review of Beats, Rhyme and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0400

We're big, big fans of A Tribe Called Quest. So just how impactful were they?

Released in 2011 and directed by Michael Rapaport, "Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest" chronicles the influential hip-hop group's journey from their formation in Queens to their rise to prominence and eventual breakup.

Topics discussed:

💡 The Power of Innovation in Hip-Hop

🤔 The Complexity of Interpersonal Dynamics

🍫 Phife Dawg’s Battle with Diabetes

🔮 Legacy and Influence on Future Generations

🎵 The Impact of Hip-Hop as a Cultural Movement

Also check out:

Playlist interview with director Michael Rapaport

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...postulate!

Check us out:

Our next live event is Thu Apr 24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Hustle & Flow

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

HHMC Rewind: Belly

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 07:30:00 -0400

In honor of DynoWright's birthday this week and coming off seeing Nas: Time Is Illmatic on the big screen at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, PA last week, here is a rebroadcast of our original episode on Belly.

The 1998 Hype Williams feature film directorial debut starred Nas and DMX.

Original show notes:

Your HHMCs review the 1998 film Belly, starring DMX, Nas, Taral Hicks, T-Boz, and Method Man. We'll answer the question: "Will Tommy and Sincere find their higher calling - or will they remain in the underbelly of crime?"

Belly on IMDb

Where to Watch: Freevee/Amazon Prime

The 20 best Hype Williams-directed videos (Billboard)

The opening scene (YouTube)

"Murder She Wrote" by Chaka Demus & Pliers (YouTube)

Cutty Ranks (Spotify)

DynoWright's new podcast - Soccer FC: Fandom & Culture

Frank Vincent (IMDB)

AZ (Wikipedia)

Taral Hicks "Silly" (YouTube)

Louie Rankin "the Original Don Dada" (IMDB)

"Gummo" trailer (YouTube)

Nas "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Spotify)

Olu Dara "Sincere" (YouTube)

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree

What was the impact of Nas' debut album Illmatic?

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0400

In the documentary Nas: Time Is Illmatic, rapper Nas charts the journey leading up to the recording of his debut album, Illmatic, discussing the influence of his parents and his youth spent in the Queensbridge housing projects.

We will be sharing our thoughts on this documentary at the Nas: Time Is Illmatic screening at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Pa. on February 22nd at 7pm. This is part of their Celebrating Black Artists Film Series. Shout out to DJ AJ Santini, he will be spinning rap and R&B hits from 6 to 7 pm, so come out early for that. Tickets: thecolonialtheatre.com

Topics discussed:

📈 Nas’s Rise from Poet to Icon

💥 Cultural Impact of Illmatic

🎧 Production Mastery Behind Illmatic

🎤 Legacy and Influence on Future Artists

🥊 Nas’s Personal Struggles and Reflection

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...activate!

Our next live event is Thu Apr 24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Hustle & Flow

Our live recording after our screening of Juice

Check out our live event schedule and more at https://linktr.ee/hiphopmovieclub

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

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Website: https://hiphopmovieclub.com/

Is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts a hip hop film?

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 07:30:00 -0400

(Here is a lost episode from the back of the vault. Enjoy!)

Can the 2023 installment of the Transformers film franchise transform Gen Z into '90s hip-hop fans?

Set in 1994, the film follows ex-military tech guru Noah Diaz and a young historian Elena Wallace as they team up with Optimus Prime and the Autobots in a battle for the coveted Transwarp Key, which, if in the hands of the Terrorcons, could threaten the future of Earth and all of mankind.

Topics discussed:

🎤 Why we think it's a hip hop film

🤖 Our classic Transformers

🎞️ Key elements and favorite parts of this film

Also check out our episodes on:

Hamilton

Juice

Poetic Justice

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...substantiate!

Our next live event is Thu April 24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Hustle & Flow. Buy tickets now!

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Rebroadcast: Breakin'

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:30:00 -0400

In honor of our screening of Breakin' at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks tonight is an encore presentation of our original episode on this 1984 classic.

Also featured tonight: B-boy demo by BRKN Steel and throwback DJ set by DJ ARM 18! Tickets still available at steelstacks.org.

How impactful was You Got Served?

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0400

You Got Served follows two best friends, Elgin and David, who lead a hip-hop dance crew in LA. They’re passionate about dance and need to raise money to reimburse family and underground associates - and so they enter a high-stakes dance battle competition. The movie highlights their rivalry with a suburban crew and explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption. Along the way, Elgin and David face personal struggles and must reconcile their differences to win the ultimate battle and protect what matters most to them. The film showcases the power of friendship, the spirit of Hip Hop culture, and the transformative nature of dance.

Topics discussed:

🕺🏻 From the streets to the stage

🥊 The dance battle is the new street fight

🎤 The soundtrack is a Hip Hop masterclass

💟 Loyalty, family, hustle

🎬 Hip Hop's influence on film

Also check out:

American Red Cross and Mutual Aid LA to support those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...activate!

Our next live event is Wed Feb 5 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Breakin'

Buy tickets here

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Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (rebroadcast)

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:30:00 -0400

Hey listener: we're going old school! Here is a rebroadcast of our original episode on Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo in honor of our upcoming screening of Breakin' on February 5, 2025 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Come join us and see Turbo, Ozone and Special K on the big screen again. Get your tickets now at steelstacks.org.

Original show notes:

Your HHMCs Boogie, DynoWright and JB vibe on the further adventures of Special K, Ozone and Turbo in "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo" on the Hip Hop Movie Club podcast.

Breakin' 2 on IMDb

Where to Watch: Pluto TV

Turbo dancing on the ceiling

The infamous stunt double swap

Frankie Crocker

Din Daa Daa (George Kranz)

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMC's: Boogie, JB and DynoWright! Theme music by Boogie.

Also check out:

Our live event schedule and more at our Linktree

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Mentioned in this episode:

Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo

Is Bodied an underrated film?

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 16:30:00 -0400

A lost episode from the Hip Hop Movie Club archives!

Grad student Adam is writing a thesis on the n-word. In an attempt to do good research, he goes to rap battles to observe. Soon he's no longer an observer, but a newcomer battle rapper with bars of his own. Quickly, he makes a name for himself and the stakes get higher with each line. And in the heat of battle, he has some decisions to make about his love, his friends, and even his life.

Topics discussed:

🤔 Is this a believable story?

🎤 The rap battles and the dozens

🥊 The rap battle competitors

👧🏼 What about Maya, Adam's girlfriend?

🫣 Some tough, maybe over the line, insults

Ⓜ️ Similarities between Adam and B-Rabbit of 8 Mile

Also check out:

Our interview with the legendary Craig G on his behind-the-scenes role on 8 Mile

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...perpetuate!

Our next live event is Wed Feb 5 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Breakin'

Buy tickets now

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

We got merch! Get yours at the MeteorWright shop

Should you add Last Holiday to your holiday movie list? (Yes!)

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Last Holiday follows Georgia Byrd, played by Queen Latifah, a shy, hardworking department store clerk who discovers she has a terminal illness and decides to spend her remaining days living life to the fullest. Trading her modest routine for a luxurious European adventure, she embraces fine dining, daring adventures, and inspires others around her to rethink their priorities. Packed with heart, humor, and Queen Latifah’s infectious charm, it’s a feel-good story about living boldly and savoring every moment.

Topics discussed:

👑 All hail the Queen, again

🙌🏾 Live your best life

💡 Know what you want

🐶 Underdog energy

1️⃣ A real one, on screen

Also check out:

Our episodes on

🏀 Just Wright

💵 Set It Off

🚔 In Too Deep

🦘 The film and TV career of LL Cool J

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...decorate!

Live Events:

Our next live event is Wed Feb 5 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Breakin'

Christmas Rappin' by Kurtis Blow

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree

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The Hip Hop Nutcracker (encore presentation)

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 22:00:00 -0400

Happy holidays to all! Here is an rebroadcast of our 2022 episode on The Hip Hop Nutcracker.

As we've said previously, rest in power to Stephen "tWitch" Boss.

If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help

If you're in a crisis, call or text 988 to speak to a trained crisis counselor. And check in on your friends and family.

Stephen 'tWitch' Boss' death and Black men's mental health during the holidays (USA Today)

On this bonus episode of Hip Hop Movie Club, your HHMCs review The Hip Hop Nutcracker, a Disney+ special.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker on IMDB

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMC's: Boogie, JB and DynoWright! Theme music by Boogie.

You can check us out at hiphopmovieclub.com.

Shout out to you listeners! Thanks for tuning in.

Dashing Through the Snow (encore presentation)

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:30:00 -0400

It's the Holiday Season (again), so hippity hop and hoppity hip, and don't forget to wear your best drip! Yo Yo Yo! Merry Christmas! We have a special holiday treat for the HHMC listeners. Is Dashing Through the Snow Ludacris-ly good? Or just aight?

Originally released December 15, 2023

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMC's: Boogie, JB and DynoWright! Theme music by Boogie.

Our next live event is Wed Feb 5 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Breakin'

HipHopMovieClub.com Website

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

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Our biggest year yet at Hip Hop Movie Club!

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

New to Hip Hop Movie Club? This video will get you caught up on our biggest year yet!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...appreciate!

Our next live event is Wed Feb 5 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Breakin'

HipHopMovieClub.com Website

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

We got merch! Get yours at the MeteorWright shop.

Where does "Friday After Next" rank in the Friday movie trilogy?

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0400

"Friday After Next" takes us to Christmas time in South Central LA with Craig (Ice Cube) and Day-Day (Mike Epps), two cousins who just can't catch a break. Their holiday season kicks off with a bang when a ghetto Santa Claus (Rickey Smiley) raids their apartment, stealing their rent money AND their presents. The boys take jobs as security guards at an urban strip mall to make their rent money back before their landlord's musclebound son Damon (Terry Crews) comes collecting. The most wonderful time of the year turns into a wild adventure in the hood.

Topics discussed:

🎄 It's a Christmas movie

👥 We see an evolution of the dynamic between Craig & Day-Day

😂 There is a shift to a more slapstick style of comedy

3️⃣ This was the last Friday installment for more than two decades – until the fourth movie, which is scheduled for release next year

🕺🏻 The movie helped launch the career of Katt Williams!

Also check out:

Our episodes on Friday and Next Friday

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...meditate!

Live Events:

Our next live event is Wed Feb 5 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Breakin'

Our original episode on Do the Right Thing

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree

Follow us on:

We got merch! Get yours at the MeteorWright shop

Boyz N the Hood: the sociological and cultural impacts of a classic

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 09:30:00 -0400

We hosted a panel discussion after our screening of Boyz N the Hood at SteelStacks, featuring Vernard James, Andrew McIntosh, and Ali Akarcesme. (Nandini Sikand was unavailable at the last minute.)

On February 5, we will be screening Breakin' at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks. Tickets available at SteelStacks.org

Check out our live event schedule and more.

More About Hip Hop Movie Club

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

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Do the Right Thing vs. Boyz N the Hood: Which one is more relevant? (Rebroadcast)

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:30:00 -0400

Both are important Hip Hop films, but is one more relevant to today's times than the other? The HHMCs discuss!

Our original episode on Boyz N the Hood

How much are the homes in the Boyz N the Hood 'hood today? (TikTok)

Our screening of Boyz n the Hood in 4K is tonight, November 13! Join us at SteelStacks in Bethlehem and hear from a panel of professors and filmmakers in the Lehigh Valley. Tickets still available!

Don't hate...educate!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

More about Hip Hop Movie Club

Check out our live event schedule and more

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Hip Hop Movie Club Website

Shout out to you listeners. Thanks for tuning in.

The Surprising History of Hip Hop at Rider University

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 07:45:00 -0400

We are joined by Mickey Hess, professor and author of several Hip Hop-related books to talk about the Hip Hop artists that have performed at Rider over the years. Hess himself has brought many of them to campus, including legends like Masta Ace and Rah Digga.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Facebook

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Boyz n the Hood (rebroadcast)

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Get your tickets for our Boyz n the Hood screening (in 4K!) and panel discussion on November 13th at SteelStacks.org.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

More about Hip Hop Movie Club

Check out our live event schedule and more

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Check out our live event schedule and more.

Shout out to you listeners. Thanks for tuning in.

Mentioned in this episode:

Boyz n the Hood (rebroadcast)

In time for our screening of Boyz n the Hood in 4K at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on November 13th, here is a rebroadcast of our original episode on Boyz n the Hood. You don't want to miss this screening, as we'll have a throwback set by DJ ARM 18 at 6:45, and then a really terrific panel discussion about the film featuring Ali Akarcesme, a filmmaker and professor from Kutztown University, Andrew McIntosh, a sociology professor from Northampton Community College (whom you already know as DJ ARM 18), Vernard James, a filmmaker and co-curator of the Black Film: Then & Now series at SteelStacks and Nandini Sikand, a filmmaker, professor and artist from Lafayette College. Get your tickets at steelstacks.org.

Is Piece By Piece a Masterpiece? We review Pharrell Williams' new LEGO movie!

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 07:30:00 -0400

A fun and inspirational LEGO® movie about the creativity and career of Pharrell Williams!

Topics discussed:

🧱 What better way to tell the story of Pharrell Williams' vivid life than through LEGO bricks?

🤩 He has produced and written so many great songs, you could easily forget just how many!

📈 How Pharrell overcame adversity is a good lesson for all.

Also check out:

Leaving the Theater with Ronald Young Jr. (a former guest on the show)

And remember:

Don't hate...be great!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

More About Hip Hop Movie Club

Get tickets for our screening of Boyz n the Hood in 4K + a special panel discussion on Nov 13 at SteelStacks

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

We got merch! Get yours at the MeteorWright shop.

Do press play on "Don't Press Play" - De La Soul on Teen Titans Go!

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

De La Soul joins forces with the Teen Titans to save their legendary music from a space monster!

Topics discussed:

3️⃣ The episode pays tribute to the legendary De La Soul as a fun and influential hip-hop trio.

🥊 There is a major theme around the group's lengthy battle with Tommy Boy Records for the rights to their own music.

🥚 Multiple Easter eggs in the episode will delight De La Soul fans.

Also check out:

A clip from the episode

"Eye Know" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert:

And remember:

Don't hate...animate!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

More About Hip Hop Movie Club

Get tickets for our screening of Boyz n the Hood in 4K + a special panel discussion on Nov 13 at SteelStacks

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

We got merch! Get yours at the MeteorWright shop.

The film and TV career of Ice Cube

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In honor of our upcoming screening of Boyz n the Hood in 4K on November 13 at SteelStacks, we are taking a close look at the film and TV career of Ice Cube.

Topics discussed:

🎞️ Ice Cube is more versatile as an actor than you might realize.

🎭 Even as his acting career has evolved in surprising ways, he has stayed true and authentic to himself.

🏀 His career also evolved to include founding the Big 3, a basketball league with former NBA players, and other entrepreneurial projects.

Also check out:

Our original episodes on Boyz n the Hood, Friday and Next Friday.

And remember:

Don't hate...motivate!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

More about Hip Hop Movie Club

Check out our live event schedule and more

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

The film and TV career of LL Cool J

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In honor of LL Cool J's new album The FORCE, we profiled The GOAT's film and television career.

Topics discussed:

🎞️ He has a more broad TV and film resume than you realize.

🛟 He is too popular with audiences to die, therefore you don't see that in his work.

🎤 He has become an ambassador for hip hop as well as mentor figure in both music and the entertainment industry at large.

Also check out:

Our episode on In Too Deep (1999), starring LL Cool J and Omar Epps.

And remember:

Don't hate...punctuate!

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

More about Hip Hop Movie Club

Check out our live event schedule and more

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Our original episode on House Party

Craig G on writing rhymes and coaching actors on 8 Mile

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Today on the show, our interview with the legendary Craig G of the Juice Crew, who had a pivotal role in the making of the Eminem film 8 Mile.

We welcomed him to the Hip Hop Movie Club show for a conversation on 8 Mile, his own experiences rapping and battling other MC's, and more. We showed this exclusive video interview of the legendary Craig G of the Juice Crew after our screening of 8 Mile at SteelStacks.

He has a new single out "The Okey Doke" now on all streaming platforms, and a new album dropping November 1st called "The World Is Cooked". Check all of that out at his Spotify page.

Also check out:

Our original episode on 8 Mile

Follow us at:

We got merch! Get yours at the MeteorWright shop.

8 Mile (Rebroadcast)

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Will B-Rabbit take his one shot - his one opportunity - to seize everything he ever wanted in one moment?

You can see for yourself on the big screen at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks in Bethlehem this Thursday Sept 19 at 7:30pm.

But wait, there's more: we will have a throwback DJ set from DJ ARM 18, a special performance from the Lehigh Valley's own Mac Vill and Maxamilly, and an exclusive video interview with Craig G of the legendary Juice Crew, who wrote the rhymes for and coached the rappers on-set who battled Eminem!

GET TICKETS

Many thanks to ArtsQuest for hosting our Hip Hop Movie Club film series!

Enjoy this encore presentation of our original episode on 8 Mile.

Did the Pajama Jammie Jam make House Party 2 better than the original?

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Kid is now in college, backed by a scholarship provided by his community, which has rallied around him following the untimely death of Pops. But that scholarship and his status as a student is in jeopardy, can he and Play save the day with a Pajama Jammie Jam?!

Topics discussed:

2️⃣ This sequel doesn't reach the bar set by the original, but it did give us the Pajama Jammie Jam.

🪦 The absence of John Witherspoon and the late Robin Harris (other than for flashbacks) leave a huge void in this film.

🎤 Queen Latifah brings a conscious element and shows off her rapping chops as Zora.

🕺🏻 Kid N Play's dancing and rapping are on display yet again, but we were left wanting more.

💿 The movie's soundtrack features some great old school classics, many of which aren't on the soundtrack album.

Also check out:

Our next live event is Thursday September 19th at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: 8 Mile!

Join us for:

🎵 throwback set by DJ ARM 18

🎤 special performance by Mac Vill

▶️ exclusive video interview with Craig G